In this episode, I speak with Qudrat Wasefi, a composer, arranger, and trumpet player from Afghanistan who studied and taught at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM). Qudrat reflects on his experience as a music student during a period when Afghanistan was recovering from decades of war, sharing how music education provided students with a sense of community, hope, and possibility. He discusses ANIM’s unique curriculum, which brought together Afghan traditional music, Western classical music, Indian classical music, and popular music, while also highlighting the school’s progressive environment where boys and girls studied together.

In this episode, I speak with Eden MacAdam Somer, a singer, violinist, and music educator who taught at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) in Kabul between 2010 and 2015. Eden reflects on her experience teaching at one of Afghanistan's most significant educational institutions following the country's ban on music, sharing how students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds including affluent families, orphans and children from low-income households came together through music education. She discusses the school's unique curriculum, which combined Afghan traditional music with Western classical music, Hindustani music, composition, and theory, while also describing students' enthusiasm for rock and metal as forms of artistic expression.

In this episode, I speak with Layla Tazhibayeva, a Kobyz player and music educator from Kazakhstan. Layla shares her perspective on music education in Kazakhstan, discussing the opportunities and challenges facing musicians today, the legacy of the Soviet education system, and the growing importance of independent artistic careers. Layla also reflects on her work modernizing the Kobyz through new genres and technology.

In this episode, I speak with Alison Armstrong, an IB music educator based in Uzbekistan. Alison reflects on the place of music in everyday Uzbek society, attitudes toward music as a profession and the country's vibrant performance culture. We also discuss the influence of the Russian music education system, the role of traditional Uzbek music within contemporary education and what makes teaching music in Uzbekistan a uniquely rewarding experience.

In this episode, I speak with Adel Minkara about the evolving landscape of music education in Lebanon. We discuss public attitudes toward formal music study, the country's unique conservatory system that integrates European classical, jazz, and Mashriq musical traditions and the challenges of building a professional career amid political and economic instability. Adel also reflects on how music continues to serve as a bridge across religious and cultural communities.

In this episode, I speak with Mazen Lawand about the evolving landscape of music education in Saudi Arabia. We discuss public attitudes toward formal music study, the social and religious factors that continue to shape perceptions of musicians, and the growing opportunities available to music professionals in the Kingdom.

In this episode, I speak with Arsalan Pareyal to explore the current state of music education in Pakistan. We discuss the role of music within Pakistan’s education system, questions of cultural identity and representation in music education and the challenges of developing meaningful and culturally relevant curricula. The episode concludes with his vision for reforming Pakistan’s music education system.

In this episode, I speak with Mirza Redžepagić about the state of music education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We discuss the legacy of Yugoslavia's music school system, societal attitudes toward pursuing higher music education and the role of formal conservatory training in shaping musicians.

In this episode, I speak with Hamza Jafri to discuss his decade-long journey building music programs across Pakistan. We explore the growing interest in music education, the challenges of balancing formal training with creativity, and the importance of preserving Pakistan’s rich musical heritage.